All the albums on this page should be in every serious guitarist's CD library. They truly are essential listening. Keep your eye on this page as I add to it regularly.

Rock
Robert Randolph This guys opens for Eric Clapton and you will hear why on this live album. Although it is mainly instrumental and one chord type grooves, Robert's pedal steel guitar playing and soloing will blow you away, I'm sure. This is a high energy album

Johnny A is a guy who is going to be very big. Some great hot licks on this album.

Are You Experienced This is the album that turned the world upside and launched Jimi Hendrix.

Surfing with the Alien This is the album that bought Joe Satriani to the world stage. Listen to this and then you will understand why he is considered a guitar god by many.

Blues

John Mayall with Eric Clapton This is Eric Clapton’s greatest ever CD according to many guitarists. If you only own one blues CD this should be it.

Paul Butterfield Blues Band This album features the great Mike Bloomfield and has some great all round guitar playing on it.

Blue Moon Robben Ford is one of my favourite players and this album demonstrates why. Tasty solos, fills, vocals, and back ups show he is one player who uses his head.

Just Pickin' Freddie King is one of my favourite blues players and this album demonstrates why. A lifetimes worth of licks here. All instrumental.

The Complete Recordings of Robert Johnson Robert is considered one of the Fathers of the blues and has influenced many top players including Eric Clapton.

Funk

Soul Vaccination Tower of Power are the best funk/soul band in the world, find out why here.

Jazz/Rock – Fusion

Last Nite Larry Carlton is the master of fusion guitar. He has many albums out, but this is my personal favourite. Recorded Live at the Baked Potatoe club in LA.

Jazz

The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery The name says it all. Wes is number one to most guitarists.

Smokin at the Halfnote If you never heard Wes live then you had better get this one. Again the name says it all.

Kind of Blue This album is a great first jazz album for anyone wanting to get into jazz. It is also my best jazz album ever. There is no guitar on it so it makes a great play along CD as well.

Blue Train This is a great guitarists introduction into John Coltrane's style.

Fourplay This band - who were one of the first to play soft jazz - features Lee Ritenour on guitar who is also one of my favourite players.

Alive in LA This one features Lee Ritenour live. The whole band just cooks from start to end, great stuff.

Fingerstyle - Classical

Miniatures for Guitar This album of classical favourites is one every fingerstyle player should own.

Cafe Paradiso This is Steve Erquiaga's first fingerstyle album played in duet form. It will blow you away.

New Albums

Two Against Nature This album by Steely Dan is a gem from the masters of jazz/rock.